I Dream of Dogs

True to the title and premise of this blog, I hereby confess that my dreams are of dogs.

Sometimes they are clients’ dogs, sometimes they are my own pups. In my dreams, they bark, sleep, play, curl up next to me. They appear in kayaks, on trails, under the dining room table. I count dogs instead of sheep.

I know. I’m weird.

I bring this up because dogs dream, too.

Who hasn’t watched – and found hilarious- your dog’s feet twitch as she chases a dream squirrel? Or what about those little yips and huffs as he defends his dream turf from the neighbor’s dog?

What does this have to do with training?

Well, recently, a German Shepherd mix named Joey awakened from a deep sleep and bit his owner, who then called me for help.

There’s an article by Dr. Nicholas Dodman, verifying that dogs do indeed dream, and actually experience the same type of REM sleep that humans do. Like us, dogs in deep sleep can get startled when awakened and, as Joey’s owner found out, may lash out with unacceptable consequences.

Here’s how we changed Joey’s behavior to prevent another rude awakening.

First, Joey was examined by his vet and found to have the beginnings of arthritis in his hips. At the age of eleven, this was not an unusual diagnosis. But it helped to explain that perhaps pain might have been a factor in the bite incident. With proper medication, Joey could be made more comfortable while awake AND asleep.

Joey’s preferred sleep spot was on the family sofa, a place where he was more likely to be unexpectedly jostled while he snoozed. His owners purchased an orthopedic dog bed for Joey, partly in deference to his arthritis, but also to get him on the floor, away from potentially disturbing activity.

In addition, Joey’s owners began to spend time on the floor with him, gently touching him and giving him treats. They did this while he was awake and also as he dozed, so that gradually, he learned that being awakened could be a dream come true.